Linkage mechanism with two lifting phases



March 2l, E95@ D. A. NEELY PLM LINKGE MECHNISM WITH TWO LIFTING PHASES Filed Feb. lo, 1947 2 sheets-sheet 1 fig. j. fig 2 5'2 46160 y Je 40 M 38 INVENToR. Don .Ha ./Vee Lrg Mlmh 2l, g@ D, A, NEELY LINKAGE MECHANISM WITH TWO LIFTING PHASES Filed Feb. 10. 1947 2 Shees-Sheet 2 @7543@ E e@ 3240 Mil 14 26 32 8 Z0 3g 4A! 35 INVENTOR. ,B0/7 ffNeeZ Bil/'gym y 0 7 .2 mV m 2 9 w J MM M M 0 w 5+ 0 VM 6 ,M Lm w Patented Mar. 21, 1950 T OFFICE LINKAGE MECHANISM WITH TW() LIFTING PHASE Claims.

This invention relates to jacks or hoists for elevating the load carrying box of a Wagon or truck.

The device of the present invention can be applied to an existing vehicle, or built in the original construction of the vehicle.

The device replaces the usual bolster, resting directly on the axle of the vehicle and supporting the load carrying box.

An object of the present invention is the provision of such a device which has a wide range of extension.

Another object of the invention is the provision of such a device which is small and compact when collapsed.

A further object is the provision of such a device which is made up of simple and rugged parts, and which when finished is simple in assembly and in operation.

A further object is the provision of a jack as described above which is made up of two channel shaped pieces having their open sides facing each other, and extendible links interconnecting the beams. When collapsed one of the beams fits almost entirely in the other, and the extendible links are in the connes of the two channel shaped beams.

An additional object is the provision of a hydraulic ram for operating the extendible links.

A still further object is the provision of a hydraulic pump and reservoir built in one of the channel shaped beams for operating the hydraulic ram. Such pump and reservoir is small and compact and contained within the confines of one of the channel shaped beams.

A stili further object of the invention is the provision of a simple jack in which, when coilapsed, the parts of the jack rest solidly within one another and form a solid support for the load carrying box of the vehicle.

When the device is collapsed the extendible links or levers within the channel shaped beams are of course disposed toward the horizontal in the device. In such a position it is dimcult to provide an arrangement for initiating the spreading movement of the beams due to the horizontal disposition of the parts. To overcome this difficulty provide a pair of levers having a point of reaction oiset with respect to the pivot point of the levers through which the hydraulic ram acts. The initial operation of the rams turns such levers about their pivots, swinging the levers to engage one of the beams, to initiate the spreading action.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an end View of a wagon employing the jack of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side view of the jack shown in collapsed position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged View taken from the right of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side view of the device when partially extended, showing the operation of the spreading links;

Figure 6 is a side view of the device showing it in a further extended position;

Figure 7 is a view on an enlarged scale taken from the right of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a plan View of the device with a portion of the upper beam removed, taken substantially on line 3--8 of Figure 3;

Figure 9 is an enlarged end View of the jack and vehicle axle showing the means of securing the jack to the axle;

Figure 10 is a semi-diagrammatic view showing the position of the jack when the wagon box is elevated;

Figure 1l is a detailed sectional View of a portion of the upper beam of the jack showing the means of adjusting one of the stop means for retaining the wagon box in position laterally;

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line l2-l2 of Figure 8;

Figure 13 is a sectional View taken on line l3- l3 of Figure 12; and

Figure 14 is a sectional View taken on the line i-lll of Figure 12.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 show the jack of the present invention applied to a Wagon. The jack is shown as a whole at l2, supported on the front axle lil of the wagon, the wheels of which are indicated at i6. The jack is shown aiiixed to the axle and supports the wagon box i3 thereon. Stop means 2li and 22 are secured to the upper surface of the jack as viewed in Figure 1, for positioning the wagon box in position laterally. Such stop means will be referred to in detail later.

The jack proper includes a lower beam 2d and an upper beam 26. Both the beams 24 and 25 are channel shaped in cross-section, having their open sides facing each other. The channel formation of the lower beam 2t may be seen in Figures 4 and 7 Where the numeral 28 indicates a channel shaped member having spacers 3l! positioned at the bottom of the inner surfaces, on each side thereof. Such spacers 3B extend a little above the center of the legs of the channel 28; and extend throughout the full length of the channel 28. The channel of the upper beam 26 is indicated at 32, which by reference to Figures 1i and 7, it will be noted is of a lesser depth than the channel 23. The channel 32 is also of lesser width and is adapted to t within the channel 28 and rest on the spacers 3b as indicated in Figure 4. 'Ihe web or upper surface of the channel 32 extends slightly above the upper edge of the channel 283 when the jack is in collapsed position.

The means for spreading the beams 2li and 25 includes a pair of links Sil pivoted at 3S in the lower channel 24, toward the left end thereof as viewed in Figures 3, 5, and 6, one on either side of the channel. Pivots for the links 34 may extend through the spacers 3B and the legs of the channel 28. The opposite ends of the links si. are provided with rollers 38. The rollers are placed on the inner side of the links 34 so that the swinging ends of the links 34 are disposed adjacent the legs of the channel 32 of the upper beam.

A second pair of links D are pivoted at 42 in the legs of the channel 32 toward the left end thereof as viewed in Figures 3, 5, and 6. The opposite ends of the lever it are provided with rollers All. These rollers 44 are also on the inner sides of the links All. and are disposed to engage the web of the lower channel 28. The links itl are disposed on the inner side of the links 3ft, and the two pairs of links 34 and il are pivoted at 4B, Spacers el are interposed between the links 40 and the legs of the channel 32 at the pivot points of the links, to accommodate the thickness of the outer pair of levers ll.

A pair of spreading lever arms i3 are pivcted in brackets 52 secured in the lower channel 28. The spreading levers 48 are provided with a connecting point 5d offset with respect to the pivot point 5t. Rollers 55S are secured to the extended ends 5B of the lever arms. The spreading levers L18 therefore are in effect bell cranks.

The brackets 52 may be welded in the bottom of the channel 28 at any convenient point toward the left end of the device, as viewed in Figure 6. i

A hydraulic ram til is secured at one end in the levers lll at the points 54. The plunger 52 is operably connected to a cross pin 6a secured in the inner links 4B.

It will be noted that the lower beam 2t is longer than the upper beam 26, the lower beam having an extension 66 at the left. Formed in the extension S6 is a hydraulic pump and reservoir for actuating the hydraulic ram til. The hydraulic mechanism just referred to is preferably a small and compact arrangement fitted in the channel 28 and contained within the connes thereof. Such mechanism includes an integral block as shown in ,Figures 12, 13 and 14, secured within the channel 28 of the lower beam 2li. contains a cell 68 serving as a hydraulic reservoir, and a thickened wall it at one end thereof. Formed in the wall "HJ is a vertical bore 'l2 and a plunger or piston '54 operable in the bore. The plunger 'Ul extends upwardly out of the block and is operable by a tubular handle 'IB pivoted on a swinging link i8. A longer extension handle til may be inserted in the tubular member i6 for gaining greater leverage. A bore S2 is formed in the wall 'l0 and is provided with a screw plug The block Srl having a central opening therein. Disposed inwardly of the screw plug 82 is a ball valve 86 biased outwardly by a spring 88. A passage 90 leads from the bore 82 and connects with a second enlarged bore 52 which forms a valve seat 94 with the passage Sil. A ball valve Q5 is positioned in the bore S2 and is pressed inwardly by a spring 93. The spring 98 is held in place by a nipple i023 threaded in the bore .'52 and extending out of the block. A hose or other :flexible connection H32 leads from the nipple lil-il to the hydraulic ram Bil. A bore It leads from the bore 9U into the piston cylinder l2. By actuation of the piston or plunger 'M oil is pumped from the reservoir 6B into the hydraulic ram Bil.

A relief valve is supplied for permitting the hydraulic ram to collapse, Extending upwardly from the bore s2 is a bore lli? at the upper end oi which is a horizontal bore m8 leading to the reservoir 58. .A horizontal screw threaded opening H2 is formed in the wall 7S coaxially with the bore m8 and provided with a screw plug IM. By turning the screw plug lili outwardly oil is permitted to return to the reservoir 58 and peri mit the hydraulic ram to collapse under the pressure of the load on the hydraulic ram.

The means for securing the jack to the axle of the wagon is shown in Figures 9 and 10. A hinge element l i6 is secured to the channel 28 by welding or other suitable means, and a second hinge element l IS is secured to the axle of the wagon by means of screws E2G. he two hinge parts are pivoted at 22. The level of the wagon box l5 is shown in Figures 9 and 10 diagrammatically. When the wagon box is in lowered position it is of course horizontal, and the jack rests solidly on the axle M. as indicated in Figure 9. As the front end of the wagon box is raised, it assumes an angle with respect to the axle as indicated in Figure l0, and therefore means must be provided to accommodate this angularity. By means oi the hinge elements l le and H8 the jack as a whole is permitted to tip backwardly to accommodate the angular disposition oi the wagon box. The hinge means is of course of heavy construction to support the load.

The wagon box is secured in place laterally by means of the stop means 2li and 22. The stop means 22 is made adjustable to accommodate slightly different sizes in wagon boxes. The stop means 22 includes a lower horizontal leg 12d (see Figure ll) adapted to rest on the upper surface of the channel 3?.. A bolt E25 is inserted through the leg 12d and through a slot 28 in the channel 32. A block 39 is also fitted on the inner surface of the web oi the channel 32, and the block i363 and the under surface of the web of the channel are provided with cooperating teeth i32 extending transversely of the channel. The block 38 secures the stop means 22 in position when the bolt 12B is tightened.

When the device is collapsed, as shown in Figure 3, the operating parts for extending the jack are disposed in a position toward the horizontal. It will be noted however that the pvot point 64 is disposed above the pivot point dii. In initially elevating the' jack, as the hydraulic ram 6!) is extended the thrust of the ram operates through the pivot points 52 on the arms 48, rocking the arms llt about their pivots 5i) and swinging the opposite ends 56 upwardly. This upward movement of the swinging ends of the arms i8 starts the spreading operation of the beams 2li and 2B of the device. Figure 5 shows the beams partially spread and still being activated by the spreading arms 48. When the upper beam 26 reaches the point at which the arms 48 no longer engage it, the plunger 6U of the hydraulic ram acts directly on the links, and continues the spreading operation. At this point the spreading arms 48 are rotated to such a point that the oiset pivots 54 engage the bottom surface of the channel 28 and furnish a solid point of reaction for the action of the hydraulic arm.

The pivot point 64 is disposed quite close to the hydraulic ram 60 so that when the ram 60 is extended the'links 3d and 4l] can be extended to a great height, resulting in an unusual range of lift of the jack.

When the jack is collapsed there is no need for any of the operating parts to sustain the weight of the load, since the legs of the channel 32 rest solidly on the spacers 30. All of the operating parts are contained within the connes of the two channel members 28 and 32 and form a compact device. The hydraulic pump and reservoir are also contained within the confines of the channel 28. It will therefore be seen that the whole device is simple and plain and all arranged within a compact space.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, manifestly it is susceptible of modification and rearrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. I do not, therefore, wish to be understood as limiting my invention to the precise form herein disclosed, except as I may be so limited by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination comprising, a pair of parallel beams, a pair of scissors links pivoted together intermediate their ends and each having one end pivoted to one of said beams, the opposite ends of said links having bearing engagement with the opposite beams, a lever arm pivoted on one of said beams and engageable with the other beam, said lever arm having a connection point oiset with respect to its pivot point, extending means interconnecting one of said links and said connection point of said lever arm, said extending means, when extended, swinging said lever arm in a direction to spread said beams, and means for actuating said extending means.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination comprising, a pair of parallel beams, a pair of scissors links pivoted together intermediate their ends and each having one end pivoted to one of said beams, the opposite ends of said links having bearing engagement with the opposite beams, a lever arm pivoted on one of said beams and engageable with the other beam, extending means interconnected between said lever arm and one of said links, said extending means, in its initial extending movement, actuating said lever arm for initially spreading said beams, said extending means on continued extension thereof reacting directly between its connected link and the beam to which said lever arm is pivoted for continued spreading of said beams, and means for actuating said extending means.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination comprising, a pair of parallel beams, a pair of scissors links pivoted together intermediate their ends and each having one end pivoted to one of said beams, the opposite ends of said links having bearing engagement with the lever arm having a connection point onset with respect to its pivot point, extending means interconnecting one of said links and said connection point of said lever arm, said extending means, when extended, swinging said lever arm in a direction to spread said beams, means limiting the extent of swinging of said lever arm, and means for actuating said extending means.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination comprising, a pair of parallel beams, a pair of scissors links pivoted together intermediate their ends and each having one end pivoted to one of said beams, the opposite ends of said links having bearing engagement with the opposite beam, a generally triangularly shaped lever arm pivoted to one of said beams, said lever arm having a connection point oiset with relation to the pivot point of the lever arm and a roller in the extended end of the lever arm, said roller adapted to engage the opposite beam, extending means interconnecting one of said links and said connection point of said lever arm, said extending means, when extended, swinging said lever arm about its pivot point in a direction so that said roller engages the opposite beam and thereby spreads the beams, and means for actuating said extending means.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination comprising, a pair of parallel beams, a pair of scissors links pivoted together intermediate their ends and each having one end pivoted to one of said beams, the opposite ends of said links having bearing engagement with the oppcn site beam, a bell crank connected to one of said beams and having one arm thereof engageable with the other beam, extending means interconnecting said links and the other arm of said bell crank, said extending means, upon initial extension thereof, operating said bell crank for initial spreading said beams, andupon further extension thereof reacting directly through said links and the beam supporting said bell crank lfor extension of said links and further spreading said beams, and means for actuating said extending means. y

6. In a device of the class described, the combination comprising, a pair of horizontal superposed beams, said beams being channel-shaped with their open sides facing each other, a pair of scissors links pivoted together intermediate their ends and each having one end pivoted to one of said beams within the confines thereof, the

opposite ends of said links having rollers mounted therein, said rollers adapted to engage and travel in the inner surface of respective beams opposite their pivot points, said links in collapsed position resting substantially horizontally in the lower one of said beams, a lever arm pivoted in the lower one of said beams and having its free end engageable with the opposite beam, said lever arm having a connection point offset relative to the pivot point thereof, and operating means interconnecting said links and said connection point of said lever arm, said .operating means being adapted to swing said lever arm and raise the upper one of said beams, said lever arm and operating means being within the vertical limits of said links when the latter are in collapsed position.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination comprising, a pair of horizontal superposed beams, said beams being channel-shaped with their open sides facing each other, a pair of scissors links pivoted together intermediate their ends and each having one end pivoted to one of said beams within the connes thereof, the opposite ends of said links having rollers mounted therein, said rollers adapted to engage and travel in the inner surface of respective beams opposite their pivot points, said links in collapsed position resting substantially horizontally in the lower one of said beams, a lever arm pivoted in the lower one of said beams and having its free end engageable with the opposite beam, said lever arm having a connection point oiset relative to the pivot point thereof, a hydraulic ram interconnecting said links and the connection point of said lever arm, said ram on actuation thereof being adapted to swing said lever arm and raise the upper one of said beams, said lever arm and hydraulic ram being within the vertical limits of said links when the latter are in collapsed position, the lower one of said beams having a portion extending longitudinally beyond the upper beam, and a hydraulic pump and reservoir formed in said extending portion for actuation of said ram.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination comprising a pair of parallel beams, a pair of scissors links pivoted together intermediate their ends and each having one end pivoted to one of said beams, the opposite end of each link having bearing engagement with the beam opposite that to which the link is pivoted, said links and beams adapted to move from collapsed to extended positions, a bell crank pivoted in one oi said beams, extending means pivotally connected to one oi the extended ends oi said bell crank and to said links, the other extended end of said bell crank being adapted to engage the beam opposite that to which the bell crank is pivoted, said extending means and said links lying substantially horizontally when said links are collapsed, said extending means being adapted to exert thrust substantially in a horizontal direction when in said horizontal position.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination comprising a pair of horizontal superposed beams, said beams being channel-shaped with their open sides facing each other, a pair of scissors links pivoted together intermediate their ends and each having one end pivoted to one of said beams, the opposite ends of said links having bearing engagement with the opposite beam, said links and beams adapted to be moved from collapsed to extended positions, said beams being substantially telescoped and collapsed, a bell crank pivoted in one of said beams, said bell crank having a relatively long and a short arm, the long arm of said bell crank being substantially longer than the vertical height of said beams when the latter are collapsed, and extending means pivotally connected to the short arm of said bell crank and to said links, said links, extending means and the long arm of said bell crank all lying substantially horizontally when said beams are collapsed and lying within the connues of said telescoped beams.

l0. In a device of the class described, the combination comprising a pair of parallel beams, a pair of scissors links pivoted together intermediate their ends and each having one end pivoted to one of said beams, the opposite end of each link having bearing engagement with the beam opposite that to which the link is pivoted, said links and beams being adapted to move from collapsed to extended positions, extending means, movable thrust converting means mounted on one of said beams, said extending means being interconnected between said thrust converting means and said links and operable to extend said links and thereby said beams, said extending means and said links lying substantially horizontally when said links are collapsed and being inclined from horizontal position when extended, said extending means being adapted to exert thrust substantially horizontally When in said horizontal position, said thrust converting means being adapted to receive thrust substantially horizontally from said extending means in the initial movement of the latter from horizontal position and transmit said thrust vertically between the beams.

DON A. NEELY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the hie ci this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,365,252 Langill Jan. 11, 1921 1,440,155 Junkin Dec. 26, 1922 1,300,384 Haack Apr. 14, 1931 2,132,343 Jarrett Oct. 4, 1938 2,412,158 Kuehlman Dec. 3, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS l Number Country Date 153,904 Switzerland July 1, 1932 600,253 Germany Jan. 29, 1933 

